Effects of postpartum uterine diseases on milk production and culling in dairy cows (original) (raw)
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Risk factors for postpartum uterine infections in dairy herds
The association between some risk factors and the presentation of post-partum uterine infections in dairy cattle has been established. However, this association is not comprehensive and the role of other factors has not been widely studied. Here the importance of age, parity, calving season, dystocia and retained foetal membranes (RFMs) was established as some of the potential risk factors for uterine infections. Cases studied occurred at two English dairy farms: Farm A (n= 463) and Farm B (n=361) that had calved between January and December 2009. It was found that Farm B reported a higher prevalence of uterine infections based on age, parity and calving season (24% vs. 16%). Farm A reported a higher prevalence of uterine infections based on retained foetal membranes (8.9% vs. 5%) and dystocia (11.9% vs. 6.9%). Both farms reported significant effect on age (χ 2 = 19.35, df 2, p<0.001 and χ 2 = 19.82, df 2, p<0.001), calving season (χ 2 = 9.61, df 3, p<0.02 and χ 2 = 80.06, df 3, p<0.001) and dystocia (χ 2 = 12.98, df 1, p<0.001 and χ 2 = 7.56, df 1, p<0.01) on the presentation of uterine infection while parity and RFMs were not significant. The findings of this study may be useful for helping to set up protocols in dairy herd health management that prompt livestock owners, breeders and veterinarians to take quick action to avoid the consequences caused by postpartum uterine infections. In addition, it could help in the formulation of correct post-calving health monitoring strategies within a dairy herd.
Definitions and diagnosis of postpartum endometritis in dairy cows
2010
The objectives of this observational study were to determine and compare diagnostic criteria for postpartum endometritis in dairy cows. Data generated from 1,044 Holstein cows (6 herds) enrolled in a randomized clinical trial were used. Cows were examined for endometritis at 35 ± 3 d (exam 1) and 56 ± 3 d (exam 2) after parturition, using endometrial cytology (cytobrush technique), vaginal discharge scoring (Metricheck device; Simcrotech, Hamilton, New Zealand), and cervical diameter measurement (transrectal palpation). Reproductive data were recorded until 200 d after parturition. Diagnostic criteria for cytological and clinical endometritis were determined based on detrimental effect on subsequent reproductive performance, using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models accounting for the effect of herd clustering. Comparison of diagnostic criteria was performed using endometrial cytology as reference test or by quantifying the agreement between diagnostic approaches. At exam 1, diagnostic criteria were ≥6% polymorphonuclear cells and mucopurulent or worse (purulent or foul) vaginal discharge for cytological and clinical endometritis, respectively. At exam 2, diagnostic criteria were ≥4% polymorphonuclear cells and mucopurulent or worse vaginal discharge for cytological and clinical endometritis, respectively. Cows were classified as having cytological endometritis only, clinical endometritis only, or both cytological and clinical endometritis. Prevalence at exam 1 was 13.5, 9.4, and 5.8% for cytological endometritis only, clinical endometritis only, and both cytological and clinical endometritis, respectively. The detrimental effects of cytological and clinical endometritis on reproductive performance were additive. Among cows with clinical endometritis, only 38 and 36% had cytological endometritis at exam 1 and exam 2, respectively. Combination of diagnostic criteria improved neither the accuracy for predicting cytological endometritis nor the agreement between cytological and clinical endometritis. Overall, these results suggested that cytological and clinical endometritis may represent different manifestations of reproductive tract disease. They also suggested that use of the terminology clinical endometritis may not be accurate and that purulent vaginal discharge may be more descriptive.
Cow-level and herd-level risk factors for subclinical endometritis in lactating Holstein cows
Journal of Dairy Science, 2011
The objectives of this study were to obtain prevalence estimates for subclinical endometritis (SCE), determine cow-and herd-level risk factors, and evaluate the reproductive consequences of SCE. A cross-sectional study was used to determine prevalence and risk factors with cows followed in a prospective study to determine reproductive outcomes. Lactating Holstein cows were sampled between 40 and 60 d in milk using low-volume uterine lavage, and cytology was evaluated to determine SCE status. In total, 779 cows from 38 herds were used in the analysis. The cow-level prevalence of SCE was 25.9%. Within-herd level prevalence ranged from 4.8 to 52.6% (median 26.3%, interquartile range 15.6 to 33.3%). Cow-level risk factors identified were ketosis [odds ratio (OR) 3.83; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.82-8.07], acute metritis (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.05-3.30], and the interaction between milk production and parity. Primiparous cows that produced more milk had increased odds of having SCE, whereas multiparous cows that produced more milk had decreased odds of having SCE. Herd-level risk factors identified were housing early postpartum cows on bedded packs (herd-level SCE = 36.1%), which increased herd prevalence of SCE by 16.7% (SE 5.58) compared with early postpartum cows housed in freestalls (herd-level SCE = 19.4%), and straw bedding in the calving pen, which decreased herd prevalence of SCE by 10.7% (SE 3.59) compared with herds that used other bedding material. In this study, primiparous cows with and without SCE had similar reproductive performance; however, multiparous cows with SCE had median days open 44 d longer (159 d; 95% CI 126-186 d) compared with unaffected multiparous cows (115 d; 95% CI 106-132 d).
Theriogenology, 2010
It has been stated that postpartum endometritis in dairy cows has a tendency to cure without intervention. The objectives of this field study, therefore, were to determine the proportions of cows with spontaneous clinical recovery or persistence of postpartum endometritis and to determine some risk factors for its persistency in dairy cows (Bos taurus). Holstein-Friesian cows (n = 441 lactations) from seven dairy herds were examined monthly by vaginoscopy and transrectal palpation. A cow was considered to have ''postpartum endometritis'' if it had pus in the cervico-vaginal discharge at the first postpartum examination during Days 15 to 60 (Day 0 = day of calving); this was classified as mild, mucopurulent, or purulent endometritis, or endometritis with fluid in uterus. Furthermore, a cow with evidence of endometritis at least once during Days 61 to 150 was considered to have ''persistence (or recurrence) of endometritis.'' A total of 104 (23.6%) lactations had postpartum endometritis, of which 25.3% had persistence or recurrence of clinical endometritis. Cows with persistence or recurrence of endometritis became pregnant at a slower rate (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.28; P < 0.001) than those with no endometritis until Day 150. Calving in summer (odds ratio [OR] = 7.00; P = 0.04), early postpartum complications (OR = 6.58; P = 0.05), moderate (OR = 4.03; P = 0.08) and severe (OR = 30.99; P = 004) degrees of urovagina, and mucopurulent (OR = 9.54; P = 0.02) and purulent (OR = 5.70; P = 0.04) endometritis were risk factors for the persistence or recurrence of endometritis. Furthermore, 10.6% of cows that had not shown signs of postpartum endometritis had a new diagnosis of endometritis during Days 61 to 150. Some risk factors for the new diagnosis of endometritis beyond Day 60 were early postpartum complications (OR = 2.82; P = 0.03) and moderate (OR = 5.00; P = 0.001) or severe (OR = 12.63; P < 0.001) degrees of urovagina. In conclusion, approximately one quarter of cows with postpartum endometritis had persistence of endometritis until or beyond the breeding period. Risk factors for the persistence of clinical endometritis were summer calving, early postpartum complications, clinically relevant urovagina, and clinically relevant endometritis within 2 mo postpartum. #
Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2014
This study was performed to investigate the effect of periparturient body condition score on the occurrence of clinical endometritis and postpartum resumption of ovarian activity in dairy cows. Eighty-seven lactating Holstein cows, fed with a total mixed ration diet, were included into the study. Body condition scoring (using a 5-point scale with quarterpoint divisions) was performed by the same investigator using the visual technique every 2 weeks, from 2 weeks before until 6 weeks after calving. Palpation of the reproductive tract and ultrasonographic assessment of ovaries for detection of corpus luteum using a rectal linear probe was also performed at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after calving. Cows with clinical endometritis had significantly lower body condition score (BCS) than normal cows at all weeks pre-and postcalving, and cows that did not ovulate until 45 days after calving had a significantly lower BCS pre-and postpartum. Cows that did not ovulate until 45 days after calving also lost more BCS from 2 weeks before to 4 weeks after calving. Besides, first ovulation after calving take occurred later in cows with clinical endometritis compared to normal cows (P <0.05). In conclusion, low BCS is a risk factor for postpartum endometritis and delayed cyclicity in dairy cows. BCS loss from dry-off to early lactation and occurrence of clinical endometritis can significantly affect postpartum ovarian activity.
Clinical endometritis in an Argentinean herd of dairy cows: risk factors and reproductive efficiency
Journal of dairy science, 2013
The objectives of this study were to assess the clinical and metabolic risk factors for clinical endometritis, the likelihood for having a normal vaginal discharge during postpartum, and the effects of endometritis on milk yield, reproductive efficiency, and metabolic status in Holstein cows. The study was conducted in a commercial dairy herd (Cordoba, Argentina) where 303 Holstein cows were enrolled. Cows were body condition scored (1 to 5) and tail bled on -14, 7, 21, 31, 41, and 50 d relative to parturition. Cows having a vaginal discharge with presence of pus between 21 and 41 d postpartum (dpp) were diagnosed as having clinical endometritis. Plasma blood samples were analyzed for nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and blood urea nitrogen using commercial kits and insulin-like growth factor 1, insulin, and leptin by RIA. Data were analyzed with PROC MIXED, PROC GENMOD, and PROC PHREG of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Abnormal calving and puerperal m...
Comprehensive methods of diagnosis and prevention of postpartum complications in cows
Bulletin of Sumy National Agrarian University. The series: Veterinary Medicine, 2020
The experiments were conducted during 2018 - 2020 on cows of black-spotted breed in the conditions of LLC "Ryasnyanske" of Krasnopil district of Sumy region. Cows were aged 4 - 8 years with an average annual milk yield of 2.5 - 3.1 thousand kg of milk per lactation. Assessment of the postpartum period was performed according to the changes that occurred in the female reproductive system. This took into account not only the general condition of the animals, the nature of the exudate, the size and topography of the uterus, but also the condition of the ovaries, cervix and vagina in rectal and vaginal examinations. Diagnosis of various forms of endometritis was performed based on medical history, clinical and gynecological studies. For the treatment of cows of the experimental group with postpartum endometritis, they were injected subcutaneously with 10 ml of the drug "Metrisan" in a mixture with 0.5% solution of novocaine at a rate of 1: 1. The interval between inj...
Alternative Treatments of Postpartum Uterine Diseases in Dairy Cows
2021
The ultimate goal of treating postpartum uterine diseases (PUDs) in dairy cows is to reach clinical cure in a reasonable amount of time and to improve reproductive performance while minimizing milk and meat residue issues, and consequently, reducing economic losses. Acute puerperal metritis in cows is usually treated with systemic antimicrobial drugs (cephalosporin, or tetracycline, ceftiofur, penicillin) and a fluid therapy in severe cases [1]. Because of concerns about antibiotic resistance and residues, some veterinarians advocate waiting 24 h to 48 h before instituting an anti-microbial therapy, thus allowing a spontaneous cure of about 30% [2]. In severe cases, this is frequently not advised in order to protect the welfare of the animal. Indeed, manipulation of the uterus and drainage of the fetid watery red-brown discharge are not recommended because of the risk of perforation of the friable and painful uterine wall and bacteremia [3]. There is no evidence of improvement of th...